G. Nazzaro

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on postmenopausal uterine myoma

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of sequential continuous hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on myoma size and on pulsatility index (PI) of uterine arteries and to verify the correlation between uterine artery flow impedance and the growth rate of myoma in women receiving HRT. METHODS In a prospective 1-year study 60 postmenopausal women were enrolled into three study-groups to receive continuous transdermal 17beta-oestradiol 0.05 mg/day plus nomegestrolo acetate 5 mg/day sequentially added: 20 patients (group A) unaffected by uterine myomas, 20 patients (group B) with single asymptomatic myoma <3 cm/14 cm3, 20 patients (group C) with single asymptomatic myoma >3 cm/14 cm3. The changes in myoma volume and in PI were assessed by means of transvaginal ultrasonographic scan every 3 months. The patients with myoma were divided into two subgroups: quiescent myoma (B1, C1) and growing myoma (B2, C2). RESULTS No significant increase of uterine fibroids volume was found after 1-year HRT (24.14+/-20.02-->28.81+/-30.02 cm3). Six out of eight myomas growing during HRT belonged to group C. The uterine artery basal PI value of group A was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the corresponding PI in group B and C. At 3 months follow-up, uterine artery PI was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the basal value in both group B (1.70+/-0.22-->1.88+/-0.16) and C (1.59+/-0.28-->1.92+/-0.21). The baseline PI values in group B1 and C1 were significantly higher than the baseline values observed in group B2 and C2 (1.76+/-0.17 vs. 1.32+/-0.02, 1.76+/-0.16 vs. 1.24+/-0.08) and significantly lower than those observed in group A (2.39+/-0.47). After 3 months of HRT, the PI values were not significantly higher than the baseline values in groups B1 and C2 (1.76+/-0.17-->1.90+/-0.17; 1.24+/-0.08-->1.74+/-0.16), while they were significantly higher in group C1 (1.76+/-0.16-->2.01+/-0.17). CONCLUSIONS Sequential continuous HRT does not increase the volume of the uterine myoma. The findings of very low resistance index in the uterine arteries of women with growing myoma may indicate the risk of growth of the neoplasia during HRT. The assessment of PI in the uterine arteries could be helpful in predicting the growth rate of the myomas before starting HRT.

Fetal cerebral haemodynamic adaptation: a progressive mechanism? Pulsed and color Doppler evaluation.

The importance of studying, by Doppler ultrasound, the cerebral haemodynamics to monitor the fetal response to the hypoxia is well known, but there is not a general agreement about the anatomical landmarks for the middle cerebral artery. Seventy-one normal fetuses and fifteen IUGR fetuses were studied. The umbilical artery and the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound. The well-known decrease of the pulsatility index from the umbilical artery was observed throughout pregnancy. This velocimetric pattern did not occur in the IUGR fetuses. Four IUGR fetuses showed the ARED (absent or reversed and diastolic flow) pattern. The MCA was evaluated at the origin (M1) and at the distal tract (M2). PI values from M1 and M2 decreased during the pregnancy. A significant difference was detected between M1 and M2 PI values from the 26th to the 37th week of gestation. The M1 brain sparing effect was detected in the IUGR fetuses. Two ARED fetuses, observed during labor, showed the M2 sparing effect. The different Doppler patterns found in M1 and M2 could be due to the functional differences existing between these tracts. As a matter of fact, M1 and M2 supply different parts of the fetal brain, which develop in different periods of fetal life. These findings, if ulteriorly confirmed, could offer new perspectives for the monitoring of high risk fetuses.

Fractional microablative CO2 laser for vulvovaginal atrophy in women treated with chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy for breast cancer: a retrospective study.

Objectives:Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Hormonal treatment and chemotherapy induce a transient or permanent menopause status. Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a frequent debilitating symptom of menopause that is best treated with local or systemic estrogen formulations. Because estrogens drive the growth of the majority of breast cancers, most effective VVA therapies are precluded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fractional microablative CO2 laser on sexual function and in relieving symptoms in women with breast cancer and VVA induced or exacerbated by iatrogenic menopause. Methods:This retrospective study included 26 women affected by hormone-receptor positive breast tumors and treated for VVA symptoms with the fractional microablative CO2 laser system. Every 30 to 40 days, women underwent a cycle of treatment for a total of three cycles. During each cycle, women underwent a gynecological examination and completed visual analog scale questionnaires designed to assess (1) the degree of symptoms and (2) procedure-related discomfort. Results:Treatment resulted in a significant regression of VVA symptoms and procedure-related discomfort versus baseline (P < 0.001 in almost all cases). No adverse reactions were observed nor reported by women. Conclusions:Fractional microablative CO2 laser treatment is associated with a significant improvement of VVA symptoms in women affected by hormone-driven breast cancer. This procedure has the advantage of relieving iatrogenic/physiological VVA symptoms without resorting to contraindicated estrogen preparations, which have been the most effective therapy thus far.

Angiogenesis: a new diagnostic aspect of obstetric and gynecologic echography

An ultrasounds triplex system (pulsed Doppler, Color mode, B mode) has been employed to study ovarian and uterine circulatory changes in fertile, infertile and postmenopausal patients. PI and mean percentage variation of PI mean values have been used. No difference has been detected in uterine haemodynamics between fertile women and those infertile patients getting pregnant by IVF-ET procedure. Patients who did not obtain the pregnancy showed different uterine and endometrial Color Doppler patterns. Furthermore, a typical endometrial blood flow has been detected both in fertile patients and infertile patients who get pregnant. Color Doppler seems to be an useful tool in the monitoring of fibroids blood supply and the uterine blood supply, especially for the clinical monitoring of GnRH analogues therapies. The technique has been also employed for the study of ectopic pregnancy. The evaluation of both uterine and throphoblast haemodynamics has resulted in a good indicator of the pregnancy progression. Concerning the ovarian pathology the color Doppler evaluation has been useful to differentiate ovarian malignant cysts from inflammatory or disfunctional masses. Nevertheless, the most interesting results have been obtained from the study of endometrial and ovarian tumors. Indeed, in the most cases, a mass supply blood flow has been detected, although in some cases no angiogenetic color flow has been found. No difference has been found in uterine artery velocimetry between malign or benign pathologies. Furthermore, histological data supporting our findings are presented.

Combined Hysteroscopic Findings and 3-Dimensional Reconstructed Coronal View of the Uterus To Avoid Laparoscopic Assessment for Inpatient Hysteroscopic Metroplasty: Pilot Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the use of 3-dimensional (3D) reconstructed coronal view of the uterus and intraoperative hysteroscopic findings to avoid diagnostic laparoscopy during inpatient hysteroscopic metroplasty. DESIGN Pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification II). SETTING University hospital infertility clinic. PATIENTS Fifty-nine patients with recurrent abortion and double uterine cavity with 3D sonographic diagnosis of septate uterus undergoing inpatient hysteroscopic metroplasty. INTERVENTIONS Inpatient hysteroscopic treatment of septate uterus without laparoscopic diagnosis. In addition to sonographic observations, 2 intraoperative hysteroscopic criteria were used to confirm the diagnosis: visualization of muscular fibers and myometrial blood vessels. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Operative parameters (operative time and fluid absorption), complications (incomplete resection and uterine perforation), requirement for a second intervention, and shape of the uterine cavity at hysteroscopic follow-up. In 56 of 59 patients (94.9%), intervention was performed without complications, and in 3 cases, intervention was suspended because of intraoperative suspicion of bicornate uterus. These 3 patients underwent laparoscopy, which confirmed the diagnosis of septate uterus. In all cases, incision was considered sufficient. Postoperative diagnostic hysteroscopy in all patients showed a normal cavity (fundal notch <1 cm). CONCLUSIONS Combined use of hysteroscopic confirming criteria and 3D sonography seems to be a reliable and simple strategy for characterizing the presence of septate uterus and to perform inpatient metroplasty usually without laparoscopic visualization of the uterine fundus.

Vaginal lactoferrin in asymptomatic patients at low risk for pre-term labour for shortened cervix: Cervical length and interleukin-6 changes

A total of 3,324 singleton pregnant women were screened for pre-term delivery and 128 women were finally randomised and analysed for outcome showing borderline cervical length (25–29 mm) and elevated cervico-vaginal interleukin 6 levels. To verify if vaginal administration of lactoferrin might have an influence on these variables, two groups of 64 patients were formed. Study cases were submitted to lactoferrin for 21 days; controls received no treatment. An inverse relation was found between interleukin 6 levels and cervical length. On day 30 from the beginning of the treatment, study cases showed a decrease in interleukin 6 levels and an increase in cervical length. A greater number of women with regular uterine contractions and reduced cervical consistency before the 37th week of gestation were found in the controls. Our data show that lactoferrin could play a role in reducing the number of women at risk for pre-term birth for shortened cervical length and elevated interleukin 6 levels.

Differentiating between septate and bicornuate uterus: bi-dimensional and 3-dimensional power Doppler findings.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess if any difference could be found in uterine vascularization between septate and bicornuate uterus. DESIGN Pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING University hospital infertility clinic. PATIENTS One hundred nine women with complete duplication of the uterine cavity. All had already received the final diagnosis of the type of uterine malformation, either septate uterus or bicornuate uterus, via diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. Another group of 10 patients with uterine anomalies and affected by ovarian mass were also evaluated via intravenous contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound examination. INTERVENTIONS Patients were evaluated using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging of the uterus. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Seventy-three patients with septate uterus, with or without cervical and vaginal duplication, and 36 patients with bicornuate uterus were selected for inclusion in the study. Irregular vascular networks were detected between the 2 hemicavities in the patients with septate uterus. All bicornuate uteri showed a peculiar vascular network between the 2 hemicavities: the main recognizable vessels formed a network depicting the Greek letter γ at the level of the uterine midline. Detection of the γ sign can be used to differentiate septate from bicornuate uterus. This finding was also confirmed in patients who underwent intravenous contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound examination. CONCLUSIONS power Doppler provides a new and uninvasive tool for differentiation of septate from bicornuate uterus.

P14.07: Fetal akinesia deformation sequence associated with cystic hygroma colli in a fetus affected by Down syndrome, at 11–14 weeks' gestation

Objective: To assess the pregnancy outcome and neonatal follow-up in fetuses with first trimester increased nuchal translucency (> p97.5) and normal karyotype. Methods: For an optimal follow-up, a specific clinic attended by an obstetrician has been established since October 2002. Fetal echocardiography (14 and 20 weeks), early anomaly scan (12–14 w), anomaly scan at 20 weeks with nuchal fold measurement and maternal infection screening (CMV, toxoplasmosis and parvovirus B19) have been allocated. Newborn follow-up has been established during the first year of life. Results: From October 2002 to February 2004, 52 fetuses with increased NT and normal karyotype were detected. A structural defect or genetic syndrome was diagnosed in 14 cases (26%): 6 cardiac defects, 2 urinary tract abnormalities, 2 fetal akinesia deformations, 2 fetal hydrops, one multiple malformation and one unespecified syndrome. From these, there was one spontaneous fetal loss at 15 weeks, 7 terminations of pregnancy (TOP), 2 neonatal or infant demises, and the four survivors required medical or surgical treatment. In addition, there was one spontaneous miscarriage at 13 weeks, and one TOP undertaken at 20 weeks, because of PROM with severe oligohydramnios after CVS. Twenty-five newborn (47%) were delivered with no defect and showed normal neurodevelopment up to the first year of life. In all of them, nuchal fold had been resolved by 20 weeks. Finally, there are 9 ongoing pregnancies (17%) with no abnormalities detected in the first half of the pregnancy. Conclusions: Increased NT with normal karyotype is associated with a high incidence of fetal abnormalities (25%). When no anomalies are detected and nuchal fold is normal at 20 weeks, the risk of and adverse outcome is very low.

P145: Mid second trimester prenatal diagnosis of vater association

VATER association is an acronym for vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, and renal anomalies. It is rare and sporadic and with no recognized teratogen or chromosomal abnormality. A mitochondrial DNA disorder has been suggested. To date a few of prenatal diagnosis of VATER association have been reported in literature. We report a case of VATER association diagnosed as earlier as the 20th week of gestation associated with a number of fetal anomalies. The consultant, a 33-year old Caucasian woman, gravida3, para1, was referred to our prenatal diagnosis unit because of a previous US scan showing a single vessel umbilical cord, an omphalomesenteric cyst, hypoplasia of left cerebellar hemisphere, ectasia of the aortic arch, a suspicious of anal atresia, sacral anomalies. Normal female foetal karyotype, 46 XX, obtained by amniocentesis, was found. The 20th-week scan confirmed the previous diagnosis but the cerebellar hypoplasia showing as well a coarctation of the descending aorta, a mild bilateral renal pyelectasis with a dysplastic appearance, a diagnosis of sacral agenesia was made. Genitalia was definitively ambiguous with an hypertrophic tuberculum ending with an anechoic cyst showing gross variation during the scan as for the urethrocele. Stomach was not detected during the all US examination. Even tough, due to the earlier of the gestational week, there were no signs of tracheoesophageal fistula, on the basis of the US scan a diagnosis of VATER syndrome associated with ambiguous genitalia was made. After prenatal and genetic counselling parents decided for pregnancy termination at 20 weeks of gestation. Dismorphological and X-ray examination confirmed the US diagnosis and necroscopy further detected an esophageal atresia. This case confirm that the VATER association can be readily diagnosed in utero, and that prenatal diagnosis can contribute to clinical decisions regarding pregnancy.

P12.11: Prenatal serial echocardiograms in the management of fetuses at risk for congenital heart block: our experience

women were referred for fetal cardiac screening, the remainder for suspected abnormalities. Fetal Cardiac abnormalities were diagnosed in 16/375 (4.3%) of ‘high risk’ screened women. They included 3/61 (5%) screened women with maternal cardiac disease, 9/166 (5.4%) previous child/sibling? with CHD, 4/34 (11.8%) of screened women with diabetes mellitus. Fetal cardiac abnormalities were identified in 18/375 (4.8%) women who had multiple risk factors. There were no obvious fetal cardiac defects among screened groups with a history of paternal CHD, previous child with CHD, maternal antibodies, and history of drug intake. Conclusions: The rate of antenatally diagnosed cardiac defects is higher than expected among our screened population. However, subgroup analysis revealed that it may vary between groups. Future studies are required to evaluate the implication of implementation of routine fetal cardiac screening policy on the antenatal detection rate of CHD and its management.